My Dream Marriage

I am feeling too hot. I draw the covers off me, inviting the morning cool breeze to sweep over my body. Ooh…it feels so good.

“Good morning,” I turn quickly the moment I hear the voice greeting me. It’s Edward. “You look good,” he comments. Huh? How now? This early in the morning? I glance over my body and I am in nothing but my birthday suit. I quickly get up but I am pulled back down by his hand that is encircling me around my waist. Thank goodness I am facing the other side away from him.

As much as I spent a passionate night with him, this was only the first night and I will have to get used to it after some time.

“Good morning too, Edward,” I say with a mission to untangle his hand off my waist. “Did you sleep well?” He asks. “Yes I did,” I answer touching his hand softly and moving it off me. I successfully do so, and get up quickly picking the duvet and covering my body.

“What are you doing?”

“Covering myself.”

“There is nothing I haven’t seen you know,” he winks at me. “I know but you are not allowed to see it now,” I smile back at him. “Aren’t you going to sleep some more?” I ask. I glance at the wall clock, some minutes past seven. “No, I can’t. If I go back to bed now, I wont get to sleep. I am thinking of making you breakfast. What do you prefer for your breakfast?” “Don’t worry about that. Grace will take care of it,” he says pulling the other side of the duvet over him. I don’t want to pester him much because he looks like he needs more rest. He has been staying out late because of his project so it would be best if he could sleep some more.

I stealthily get off the bed to locate my clothes that I had put on the chair at the dressing mirror. I am all set and I head out the door closing it behind me and head to the kitchen. I will have to ask Grace about Edward’s breakfast preferences.

Grace is already in the kitchen when I get there. She is radiant and all set for the day’s activities.

“Good morning Grace?” I greet her the moment I get in. “Hey Neera, how was your night?” She asks. “I am good thank you. I guess you are fine too,” I tell her. “Oh yes I am,” she says excitedly. “You seem so happy today. What’s the occasion?”

“My daughter is visiting me later today. I have missed her and she said she couldn’t stay one more day without seeing me.” I know what she means. I can’t stay a single day without calling my parents on video, just to see them. “Wow, then I get to meet her,” I say. “She is just one or two years older than you, so I guess you’ll get along well.”

“I want to make breakfast for Edward and I have no idea what he likes. Would you help me?” I ask her who seems uncomfortable for a few seconds before answering, “why the trouble? I am here. You just relax and I would do it, okay?” “No, I wanted to do it myself so as to be familiar with it even when we leave here, I will be able to do it. Please, this won’t hurt,” I plead with her. “Okay, girl come on let’s get to work.”

Edward likes English breakfast. Doesn’t like much sugar. Contrary to me, I like enough sugar in my tea, enough milk with not so enough tea leaves boiled together until it produces some kind of smell that could attract any tea lover from a distance.

*****

“Hey, you must be Maria,” I greet her as soon as she comes through the gate. I was just outside feeling the breeze from the ocean. I guess I won’t go for a stroll today.

“Hello, how are you? It seems like you know me.”

“A bit. Your mom told me about you.”

“Oh, she did? She likes introducing an imaginary daughter to people,” she remarks. “She must be proud of you that’s why she can’t help it,” I say and she smirks. “My name is Neera by the way,” I introduce myself. “Nice to meet you Neera. You must be my mom’s boss’s wife. Sorry for my manners,” she apologizes but I don’t know why. “Why are you apologizing?” “You are like my boss you know. I talked to you like we are on the same class,” she says. “Oh come on. Besides I respect your mother like my own so no worries okay? So just call me Neera,” I say.

“Okay. You are so nice and different. Not like those …,” she cuts herself off.

“What were you saying?” She should at least finish her sentence.

“Oh nothing,” she says. “Nothing? Of course there is more to what you were saying.” “I meant that you are different from those rich girls,” she says. “Oh you should know there are humble girls from rich backgrounds too,” like Edward’s family members seem nice. Or rather it’s because I am not from a rich family. But I am married to a billionaire so I am counted like a rich girl, right?

“Where is she? I came to see her,” she says. “She is inside. She is expecting you, come on,” I signal to her to follow me into the house.

“Mummy,” she yells the moment she sees her descending the stairs. She runs to her and envelops her in a hug. Her mum hugs her too and they embrace for a moment before disengaging. “I missed you baby,” she laments. “I missed you too mom,” Maria says and I feel some loneliness suddenly. Although I talk to my parents everyday, their presence have been missed dearly. I guess from Grace’s exchange with her daughter is like they are so reliant to each other. Grace doesn’t have a husband so Maria should be her close confidant and considering she is the only child. Maria on the other hand doesn’t have a father or siblings so all the love that she has is all for her mother.

I decide to leave them to get along and head upstairs to our room. I should get rid of this loneliness too.

“I’ll be in my room. See you later,” I tell them and they nod at me.

I open the bedroom door and all the memories of last night flood my mind. Now I am no longer a little girl anymore. I am a woman now. To top it off, somebody’s wife. I left Sura City a naive girl but I’ll be going back a full woman. The bed is neatly spread. I close the door and move towards it and sit. My phone is placed on top of the bedside drawer and believe me when I say I have never opened it.

I move closer and open the first drawer to reveal some notebooks and an album. This must be interesting. I pick up the photo album and start opening the pages one by one. There are mainly photos of two boys, from an early ages of like one year or maybe months and as I turn the pages there is progress in their age as they grow up. This should be Edward and his brother.

More and more pictures of the boys and their parents, some members of their family who I can recognize from the wedding. I can see an older man’s picture, a black and white picture of two young men I can’t recognize and a young couple’s wedding also in black and white. There are so many pictures here. My head could hurt from trying to take into account many people’s faces so I put it down on the bed. I will proceed later.

I open the next drawer and inside there is an intricate blue jewelry box. I pull it out and open it. There is a beautiful silver necklace with a big blue diamond. There is a matching pair of earrings. This must have cost a fortune. I wonder whose they are. Mine? Could they be another gift Edward is planning to give? But why haven’t he? Shut up! My subconscious yells at me. I should let him give it to me by himself. With that in mind, I put them back together and with the album I return them back in the drawer.

I take my phone ready to call my parents. I should be back home in two days time.

“Hey mom, hey dad?” I greet them cheerfully when they get connected to the video call.

“Hey Neera, how are you?” My dad. “I am great, dad, I miss you so much,” I say. “We miss you too baby girl. I hope you are having the best time of your life. When you come back be ready to show me the best of Marina you could visit. I guess you have taken many photos you will have to show me,” my mom says.

“Of course mom. It is so beautiful here. I wish I could stay much longer,” I say. “Why? When are you coming back?” She asks. “I should be back on Saturday, visit you on Sunday because I should be going back to work on Monday.”

“That soon? Did Edward book just a one week holiday?”She asks. I haven’t even asked him about it frankly speaking. When he comes back I will ask him about it. If it means more days then I will have to talk to my boss about it.

“I will have to ask him about it if there is an extension.”

“Okay, so where are you visiting today?” My dad asks. “I am just in the house. Edward left in the morning with his driver so I can’t go out without any of them,” I say. Edward is on his usual work routine. Alex is with him. Alex works as his driver and majorly his right hand man.

I watch as my dad shifts uncomfortably on his wheelchair. My mom notices this and asks him, “are you okay?” “Yes, just a little tired”, he answers. “Dad, get yourself a rest. I will call you later. Take care,” I say. “Okay Neera, I guess we’ll talk to you later. Let me take your dad to rest.” “Okay mom, bye, love you dad.” “Love you too Neera,” and the screen goes blank. I know my dad sometimes gets weaker and he really needs much rest with no disturbance. My mom has done a great job in taking care of him. Her housekeeping job is at stake now because she doesn’t report to work as required.Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Hey Neera, you look… actually you are glowing girl. What’s the secret?” Jackie asks the moment I connect them both. I am on video call again. I am too bored to sit down without talking to anyone. Grace is with her daughter and I don’t want to be the third wheel in their conversation.

“It must be Edward. Wait. Neera, tell me, did you do it?” Azila asks abruptly leaving me no choice but to blush. “You see. I said it. Did you see her reaction?” Azila says. “Yes I did,” Jackie chimes in. “You guys stop it. I haven’t confirmed it,” I say. “Oh please we don’t need your confirmation. We saw it live for ourselves. Tell us, how was it?” Azila asks in anticipation. “It was awesome.” I want this topic to end as soon as it started. I am too shy for this kind of talk.

“Finally. We are on the same level,” Jackie says. “How are you girls,” I ask. “We are good, just missing you big time.”

“I miss you too but I’ll be back soon,” I say. “Don’t tell me you were really on a week long honeymoon,” Azila asks. “Yes, I meant it. I have to go back to work. You understand what I mean,” I say. “Yeah right. Where is Edward by the way? I hope he isn’t listening to our conversation,” Jackie says. ” No he isn’t. He went out for work,” I say. “So you are just alone in the house?” “No, Grace, the housekeeper is here. Her daughter is here too. It’s still early, I might get a chance to visit somewhere,” I think so.